The Irish government has agreed the wording of a national referendum
on abortion to be held by the end of May which could radically transform
the lives of thousands of women and signal a further loosening of the
grip of the Catholic church.
The cabinet, meeting on
International Women’s Day, approved a bill on Thursday allowing the
long-anticipated referendum to go ahead.
Voters will be asked if
they want to repeal article 40.3.3 – known as the eighth amendment –
which since 1983 has given unborn foetuses and pregnant women an equal
right to life, effectively enshrining a ban on abortion in the country’s
constitution.
If Ireland votes in favourt of repeal, the
government has said it will introduce legislation permitting
unrestricted abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Currently,
terminations are only allowed when the life of the mother is at risk,
and the maximum penalty for accessing an illegal abortion is 14 years in
prison.
Since 1983, an estimated 170,000 women have left Ireland
to have terminations, and up to 2,000 women each year illegally take
the abortion pill, accessed online.
Source : theguardian
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